COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Junior Ben Di Rosa's goal in the 76^th minute gave the No. 24 Maryland men's soccer team a 1-0 victory over Villanova at Ludwig Field Monday night.

The XI

Niklas Neumann (GK)
Matt Di Rosa (LB), Johannes Bergmann (LCB), Brett St. Martin (RCB), Ben Di Rosa (RB)
Nick Richardson (M), Eli Crognale (M), Brayan Padilla (AM)
Justin Harris (LW), Eric Matzleveich (CF), Malcolm Johnston (RW)

View From the Box

• In a slugfest of a Monday night affair, the Terps overcame a slow start in the opening half before putting the pedal down in a more complete second half performance. Maryland overcame a physical Wildcat side that fouled the Terps 19 times on the night.
• Di Rosa's goal in the second half was a belter. After some quality build up play, freshman Malcolm Johnston funneled the ball from the left side of the 18-yard box to fellow newcomer David Kovacic at the top of the box. Kovacic slid the ball into the path of Di Rosa in the right channel. The junior took a single touch and then laced the ball into the top corner of the net.
• The goal was Di Rosa's second of his career. The Washington, D.C., native score in last season's Big Ten semifinal against Indiana.
• Johnston now has a pair of assists to go along with a goal in his freshman campaign. The assist was the first of Kovacic's college career.
• Di Rosa's tally was the culmination of an improved home side performance in the second half. The Terps jumped on Villanova after the break with Johnston drawing a penalty kick in the 50^th minute. Senior Johannes Bergmann's spot kick was saved, but it was a statement of intent for Maryland.
• The Terps had five corner kicks in the second half and threatened on set pieces to go along with their superiority in the run of play. Prior to Di Rosa's goal, Kovacic made a sensational move to beat a Wildcat defender before being brought down at the top of the box. Sophomore Brayan Padilla took the ensuring free kick, but missed his shot high.
• Redshirt freshman keeper Russell Shealy was pressed into action in the fifth minute after Niklas Neumann departed due to injury. Shealy earned his second clean sheet at Ludwig, needing to make just one save.
• Maryland's backline was strong throughout as it was the unchanged quartet of Ben Di Rosa, Brett St. Martin, Johannes Bergmann and Matt Di Rosa for the fifth straight match.
• Redshirt freshman Nick Richardson once again did strong work in the center of the park for Maryland, much of it next to Kovacic, who performed admirably in place of Eli Crognale, who left early on with a knock.  

The Stat

• Maryland kept its third consecutive clean sheet at home to start the season, the first time its done that since 1999. Current Maryland assistant Scott Buete was a freshman on that squad. Scotty and Sasho, the common threads.

From the Boss
"I've got so many good kids. These kids are…I just can't tell you how much I love them. There is everything you could want in these kids. They are great students, great people and great players. It makes it a lot of fun as a coach." – Sasho Cirovski

From the Boys
"I've been looking forward to this for a long time. Last year was a huge struggle. It was the first time I've ever been hurt in my life. It was a long recovery process. I didn't know where I was going to fit in and I'd never played the six role before. I was always a center back and I came here to play right back. I really wanted to be in this team and play positive minutes. I think I've proved myself the last few." – Nick Richardson

Up Next
Maryland welcomes Northwestern to Ludwig Field for the Big Ten opener on Friday night at 7 p.m. Come early as the Maryland women's soccer team will clash with Wisconsin beforehand at 4 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on BTN Plus.